title: Mouthwash and oral cancer risk: an update.
abstract: The possible relationship between mouthwash use and oral cancer risk has been the subject of at least 10 case-control studies published over the last three decades. Three of these reported relative risks above unity and seven no consistent association. Only a few studies, moreover, included information on different types of mouthwash, and addressed the issue of alcohol-containing mouthwash. Thus, critical review of published data revealed that a link between mouthwash use, specifically alcohol-containing mouthwash, and oral cancers is not supported by epidemiological evidence.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Milano e Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria G.A. Maccacaro, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. lavecchia@marionegri.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; D000431:Ethanol